The nominees for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards have been announced. The Billboard Music Awards, created in 1989, will convene at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on May 22.
The unique awards show is presented by Billboard Magazine recognizing music across all genres in 43 categories. The trophies are based on key fan interactions with music, including album and digital songs sales, radio airplay, streaming, touring and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. The awards are based on the reporting period of tracking dates March 23, 2015 through March 17, 2016 and Billboard chart dates April 11, 2015 through April 2, 2016.
R&B/Pop artist The Weeknd leads all nominees with 19 nominations across 16 different categories including nods for Top Artist, Top Male Artist, and Top Billboard 200 Artist. Justin Bieber follows with 12 nominations. Other top nominees include Drake and Fetty Wap with 11 nominations respectively, with Taylor Swift and Adele each nabbing 8 nominations.
The inspirational music scene is well represented across six categories as Hillsong UNITED leads the pack with four nominations including two nominations in the category of Best Christian Song (“Oceans (Where Feet My Fail)” & “Touch The Sky). Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Kirk Franklin, and Chris Tomlin all picked up 3 nominations. Tasha Cobbs, Lauren Daigle, Marvin Sapp, MercyMe, and Travis Greene each picked up two nominations. Other nominees in these categories include Jonathan McReynolds, tobyMac, Brian Courtney Wilson, Joey & Rory, Erica Campbell, and NEEDTOBREATHE.
Artists Ludacris and Ciara have been tapped this year’s show which airs live on May 22 at 8p ET on ABC.
Take a look below at a few of this year’s categories.
Top Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silentó
Bryson Tiller
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist:
Adele
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong United
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, 25
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Top Rap Album:
Drake, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Hillsong UNITED, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns That Are Important To Us
TobyMac, This Is Not A Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
Hillsong UNITED, “Touch The Sky”
MercyMe, “Flawless”
NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw, “Brother”
Chris Tomlin, “Good Good Father”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, “Worth”
Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, “I Luh God”
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy?”
Travis Greene, “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “Worth Fighting For”
